So Wimbeldon may be over now, at least until next year, but the real main event of the tennis season has just arrived in the form of Virtua Tennis 2009. I’ll admit I am somewhat a fan of the Virtua Tennis series and was hoping for more of the same, a seriously solid tennis game with a enjoyable mini-games but what you get is a somewhat different experience with the Wii version of the title mainly due to it’s new control scheme.
On face value, this game has all of the ingredients that have made the franchise the success it is today. There’s the usual spate of mini-games (12 in all) including favourites such as Pin Crusher and Blockbuster. There’s an incredibly long World Tour mode in which you can master the game.
Veterans of the series will notice the lack of the constantly diving rallies from VT3 instead 2009 opts for the more measured approach from the first two games. Gone too are the annoyingly squeaky shoes creating a much more presentably playable system. It’s just a shame the rest of the presentation isn’t so solid.
Graphics are passable and Sega have done a surprisingly good job with the plethora of courts on offer. The top players are modelled to a very high standard although the self created characters look somewhat creepy with a strangely zombie-like appearance no matter what you do to them. Some of the cut scenes are a bit strange too, like when you win your first trophy and it sounds like a packed arena of people when there are only a couple of spectators. Nothing too major actually they are all quite forgivable but they soon add up.
Despite the consistency between the core versions of 2009 behind the Wii version lies a rather different feeling game. A key feature is the Shot Gauge bar. Depending on your player’s court position a white vertical line will sweep quickly, speed dependent on how well placed you are, either from the right or left for a forehand or backhand shot respectively. Shot placement is dependent on how early or late you return the ball. To hit the ball to the right of the court, you connect with the ball with the line at the right side of the bar. If you swing too early or too late you’ll either miss the shot or hit the ball out.
Although the current control system seems the most logical way to go. Coupling the racket with running (optional using the nunchuk analog) is not the best combination, simply down to the fact that they’re attached. Meaning you’ll occasionally get carried away and pull one of the controllers.
Running isn’t the only way the control system seriously lets the game down, the game quite often misreads what you are doing and by getting ready for a shot at the wrong moment could lose you the point. Missing the ball in the other versions isn’t the end of the world you can quickly run back an have a second swing at the ball but the way the Wii version is setup, with the shot gauge, you only get the one chance to hit the ball. Luckily you can tune the sensitivity but you’ll never feel completely comfortable.
Virtua Tennis 2009 is a valiant attempt at a conversion for the Wii. In what should be the inherently better platform, the Wii version of Virtua Tennis 2009 isn’t without its flaws leading to a disappointingly lacklustre offering when compared to its counterparts. But the intriguing controls show enough promise for you to stay tuned to any future Wii releases.
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